Matthew Gardiner

Matthew Gardiner is an artist most well known for his work with origami and robotics. He coined the term Oribot 折りボト and then created the field of art/science research called Oribotics.
Oribotics is a field of research that thrives on the aesthetic, biomechanic, and morphological connections between nature, origami and robotics.

An interview with Matthew Gardiner on Australia's Radio National Drive Show with Julian Morrow. Matthew speaks frankly about growing up in rural Australia, and the origins and inspirational background of his artwork.

Matthew Gardiner started work in 2011 as an artistic researcher at the Ars Electronica Futurelab, transforming his 2010 residency into a full time occupation. His role is in the Research and Innovation Group, led by Christopher Lindinger. Look out for some interesting works to come.

The 2009 Rupert Bunny Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship has been awarded to local artist Matthew Gardiner.

Matthew Gardiner’s specialty is oribotics, the fusion of origami and technology to create origami that is controlled by robot technology (paper that will fold and unfold on command). The concept of the mechanics which transforms the paper is based on the human hand and uses a simple push/pull mechanism to actuate a five-petalled flower. The Award will allow Gardiner to participate in a collaborative Ars Electronica Futurelab residency in Austria that specialises in interaction design. He will use the Fellowship to develop new robotic production techniques to create a work that is intuitive and human centered.

As part of the award Gardiner will present one robotic artwork to the City of Port Phillip on completion of the project. He will also exhibit the work at Linden Gallery in November 2010 and will conduct public talks about his work at the Gallery, St Kilda Town Hall, in December 2010. The work will be shown at the Recent Acquisitions exhibition in December 2011.